i SPY(++) the most difficult question on the forum...

This question quite possibly has no answer, but here it goes. I am still automating a Lotus Notes Install. I am running into a problem I simply can not get past. At one point of the installation there are fields you need to type into. Priorly, I had directly accessed the fields by handle, and simply called to them with the PostMessage. The problem is, at one part of the install, these fields are inside of a richtextbox :( . You can not use spy++ to get the handle on them. To be honest, I am not even sure there is a handle to them, but if anyone knows anything about how to access fields within rich text boxes, I am VERY open to suggestions. Also, as alternatives go, I would also consider any alternatives offered as well as long as they will work on a computer regardless of speed. I used PostMessage specifically for that reason. For an alternative, is there anyway to send keystrokes and insure that no matter what the speed of the computer that they are recieved in their entirety. Is keybd_event sufficient for that? Thank you very much for all your help.

Joe

Joe,

I don't know if this will help, but I am using InstallSheild professional and it gives the facility to 'record' and install. You simply invoke it with the -r parameter and a sort of script file is created. This script file contains the data filled in to the dialog boxes.

With this script file you can automate installations by using the -s parameter (silent install) with the script file in the location of the setup.

Now I don't know much about the Lotus Notes installer, but I bet it might have a similar function automating installation.

First, an automated install would not quite work because there are variables that change from installation to installation. My macro is sufficient in actually getting past the intial installation. It is the configuration within the actual program(another area that has many changing variables) that is causing the problem. If a rich text box contains objects that do not have direct handles through Spy++, does this mean they are tab delimited, or something of that sort? If so, how would access a tab delimited field of a rich text box? Thank you for the help.

Joe

(Note: I have not been to work yet, but I found that sending em_getline with sendmessage should allow you retrieve a line from a specified index(which would alow you to access them directly if they are delimited). Is there a constant such as em_setline that would allow you assign text to that. Or perhaps does sendmessage wm_settext have a wparam that specifies index?? Thank you)